Not a day passes without someone writing me with a disappointment, bothersome distraction or big obstacle to overcome in their Shikantaza Zazen practice. In fact, 100% of the comments I get from folks about problems in Shikantaza are because Shikantaza is failing to do what they wish, to produce pleasing results or to meet expectations.

However, Shikantaza is the very dropping of wishes, of seeking results and comparing “what is” to expectations! It is radically allowing what is, knowing that all feelings of disappointment, bother and desire exist largely between the ears. I dare say that the -only way- to sit with disappointment about Zazen is to be disappointed!

In Just Sitting, one can leap through the little self’s selfish wants and desires to a wholeness free of all little wants and desires. The wholeness without desire or want is revealed as always here when we soften or drop desires and wants, right here as this world of desire and wants. Oh, aches and pains, ups and downs, hard and easy times will always be part of life, and they will sometimes sting, but they are just life, samsara, this world! However, nothing is an “obstacle,” and instead, is only the place where we are, like Buddha under the Bodhi Tree.

That is how all wishes are fulfilled, results attained and expectations achieved!

Funny is this Wise-Crazy, counter-intuitive Shikantaza.